Clarke: New record special

Michael Clarke says beating Ricky Ponting's record for the most Test runs for Australia in a calendar year was a "special" feeling.

The Australia skipper went into the second Test with Sri Lanka at Melbourne needing 56 to beat Ponting's national record, and he scored 106 - his first century at the MCG.

"It's nice to get that monkey off my back to get my first hundred in Melbourne," Clarke said.

"In regards to beating Ricky, in my eyes he was certainly the greatest batsman I was lucky enough to play with so to beat any record that Ricky holds is very special, that's for sure."

Clarke has now amassed 1,595 runs in 2012, with a remarkable average of 106.33.

Only Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf (1,788), West Indian Viv Richards (1,710) and South Africa's Graeme Smith (1,656) have scored more runs than Clarke in a calendar year.

"Numbers have never really bothered me too much," Clarke added. "It's nice to be making runs and leading by example as one of the leaders in the team and the captain of the team, but to me it's about winning games."

The hosts closed the second day on 440-8, a first innings lead of 284, with Mitchell Johnson rubbing salt into Sri Lanka's wounds with an unbeaten 73.

"I would love to see Mitchell get his second Test hundred and then we'll be back out there bowling and hopefully we can bowl Sri Lanka out," Clarke said.

One worry for Australia is the fitness of Shane Watson, who may not be able to bowl in the second innings.

He suffered a calf injury bowling in Sri Lanka's first innings and physio Alex Kountouris said: "He was able to get though the batting innings today and is likely to field on day three.

"Whether he bowls in the second innings will be determined closer to the bowling innings. A decision on his availability for the New Year Test will be made after the completion of the current match."